Washington, Jul 23 (V7N) – The United States and Saudi Arabia have signed a landmark agreement to advance the Gulf kingdom's civilian nuclear energy program, laying the foundation for what officials describe as a long-term strategic partnership.
According to the BBC, the US Department of Energy described the accord as a peaceful nuclear cooperation agreement, saying it will create significant opportunities for American companies to participate in the development of Saudi Arabia's nuclear energy sector.
The full text of the agreement has not yet been made public.
The Energy Department also confirmed that the two countries signed a separate bilateral security agreement alongside the nuclear cooperation deal.
In a statement, the department said the two agreements together establish the legal framework for a multi-billion-dollar partnership expected to last for decades, supporting a range of economic and strategic objectives, including efforts to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons.
The Saudi government said the agreement represents an expansion of existing energy cooperation between Riyadh and Washington. It added that the deal follows discussions held during Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's visit to Washington in November last year.
According to several US media reports, the agreement could eventually allow Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium domestically. While enriched uranium is commonly used as fuel for civilian nuclear power plants, it can also be used in the production of nuclear weapons if enriched to higher levels.
The announcement comes amid heightened tensions between the United States and Iran. Saudi Arabia, a longstanding US ally that hosts several American military bases, has faced growing regional security challenges in recent weeks.
The development also follows a declaration by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi movement of a naval blockade targeting Saudi Arabia, further intensifying concerns over stability in the region.
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